William Adolphus Linn (February 27, 1752 – January 8, 1808)
was an American Presbyterian minister of the Dutch Reformed Church and the second President of Queen's College (now Rutgers University), serving in a pro tempore capacity from 1791 to 1795. He was also one of the first Chaplains of the United States House of Representatives along with Samuel Provoost. When Thomas Jefferson was running for President, Linn was among the most outspoken over Jefferson's indifference with various Biblical scripture.
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Early life and family
William Adolphus Linn was born on February 27, 1752, on Shippensburg, Pennsylvania. His grandfather and father were both named William, who emigrated from Northern Ireland in 1732 and settled in Chester County, Pennsylvania. Linn was the eldest of a
large brood of siblings. Like his father, took on the responsibilities of managing their farm.
Linn's first wife was Rebecca Blair with whom he had twelve children, five of whom died in infancy. One of their sons, John Blair, became a clergyman in Philadelphia; his second wife was the widowed Catherin Moore, with who he had two children; his third wife was the widowed Mrs. Hanson who gave him one child.